UCI Worlds – Quotes from Michael Rogers

Aussie pro cyclist Michael Rogers is competing in the elite men’s time trial and road race at the 2010 UCI Road World Championships and provided comments on the course and his participation.

On the time trial course at the Championships:
“It’s certainly a very tough circuit. I was lucky enough to see it in January when I was here for the Tour Down Under and made a special trip down here to Geelong to inspect the circuit, but I don’t remember it being this tough…I think the weather conditions will play a big part in the race.”

“It’s tough. There’s a lot of rhythm change. The weather, the wind, will have a huge impact.”

“A lot of the European guys have been shocked. Everyone thinks, ‘sunny, beautiful, flat Australia’ and that’s not the case.”

On how he feels before his participation in the Championships:
“I’m feeling good. I’ve had quite a good build‐up, particularly for the time trial. I’m feeling positive and ready to go, but until I get out there and cross the line there is, for me, a bit of a question mark on how I’m going. I haven’t raced so much since the Tour de France, but I’m feeling confident and good on the bike.”

“I haven’t raced that much, I’ve had to base my entire preparation on training, but that’s exactly what I did in the years that I won.”

On his two‐year break from time trials:
“I still enjoy it. I’ve taken the last couple of years out…but after winning three world championships earlier on in my career, I didn’t have that drive anymore to win it. But I worked hard to get that back this year and I’ve been time‐trialing well. I’ve hardly finished out of the top three or four in time‐trialing this year.”

—Michael Rogers (30) currently is part of the Pro Cycling team HTC Columbia and his contract ends in 2010. There is strong speculation, though unconfirmed by HTC Colmbia and Team Sky that Mick Rogers will join Team Sky for 2010.
Photo : TDWSport / Team HTC Columbia